The Mechanical Arm

As a larger booth rose up, many people perked up, knowing that the really good stuff was coming.

A Devil Fruit sat on the display stand, protected by transparent glass, seemingly to prevent it from being stolen. With "Dark Emperor" Teach present, who would dare to make a move?

However, this also shows how much the Night Pirates value this Devil Fruit.

"This is Ancient Species Dragon- Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Double Crown Dragon form. Starting bid is one Beli," Baccarat said with a smile, looking down at the crowd.

The previous ordinary Devil Fruit have already achieved great success compared to typical auctions, so it goes without saying that the Ancient Species will fetch even higher prices.

After all, Ancient Species Devil Fruit users are inherently several levels stronger than ordinary Zoan. Many well-known strongmen on the seas today are Ancient Species Devil Fruit User, just like the executives of the Beasts Pirates.

Five hundred million!

The numbers below five were omitted, and the first bid alone exceeded the final auction price of the previous ordinary Devil Fruit.

Moreover, this time the bidder wasn't an ordinary pirate crew; some people turned their attention to the Beasts Pirates.

Gates's figure, larger than a giant, was extremely conspicuous, making the other members of the Beasts Pirates appear like ants in comparison.

"The Beasts Pirates have made their move."

"I heard that Kaido of the Beasts wants to create Zoan army."

Some pirate crews hesitated, while others were too poor to even be eligible to participate in the auction; they couldn't afford that many Beli.

Five hundred and fifty million!

"Six hundred million!"

Some pirate crews have already started making bids; they are not afraid of the Beasts Pirates, especially since Kaido of the Beasts is not present.

The Night Pirates are all here, bidding fairly; they are not afraid of the Beasts Pirates.

Moreover, such a powerful Ancient Species can be of great use to some physical experts who have not yet become ability users, and can completely improve their strength by one or two levels.

They all had a great desire for this Ancient Species.

The four marines watched the lively auction quietly. They wanted the Devil Fruit too, but they didn't have the money.

Although it wouldn't be of much use to them, if they were brought back to Marine Headquarters and fed to qualified individuals, it could easily create another powerful Marine Vice Admiral for the Navy.

The future Marine Vice Admiral, Dalmatian, is just an ordinary Zoan, Inu Inu no Mi.

Marine Vice Admiral are basically masters of physical combat, Great Swordmaster, proficient in the Marine Six Styles, and possess Two types of Haki.

For them, the most suitable ability would undoubtedly be a powerful Zoan Devil Fruit. However, although the Navy has a large reserve of Devil Fruit, there are not many good ones, and they don't value them.

The increase in their numbers is minimal; in fact, it would create a significant weakness for them.

The World Government holds most of the powerful capabilities, and even when they are provided, they are prioritized for CP0.

Sengoku regretted it a little; he should have had Tsuru and the others bring more Beli when they came, so they could have bought some better abilities.

However, this is just wishful thinking. This is a pirate festival, and aside from the dark underworld forces, they are also on the side of chaos.

The navy came and that's it; they didn't say anything, which is already a big concession. If they wanted to get involved further, that's impossible.

Below, Doflamingo's lips twitched slightly. This Devil Fruit was also something he had given to the Night Pirates. It had cost him a considerable amount of money to obtain it, but the Night Pirates had also provided him with a large amount of funding.

He was somewhat reluctant to part with such a powerful ability, and he didn't have a suitable candidate among his subordinates.

I didn't expect the Night Pirates to put it up for auction. But thinking about it, there are so many Devil Fruit users in the Night Pirates. Slada's origins are mysterious, but we do have information about the Fish-Man Radon. He must have acquired his abilities after joining the Night Pirates, and the same goes for Lafitte.

The fact that they can produce a top-tier Ancient Species like the Mosasaurus Form, along with Lafitte's Night Blood Bat form, shows that the Night Pirates are not lacking in powerful abilities.

Soon, the auction price reached 1.3 billion Berries, and even so, the upward trend did not slow down. Because of this, a large number of forces were eliminated. Although they could afford 1.3 billion Beli, it was still very painful for them.

Those who can continue to compete are all large, powerful pirate crews, and some members of dark underground forces are also involved.

"1.5 billion Beli!" Laimer of the Beasts Pirates said in a deep voice, without even blinking.

"1.55 billion!" Compared to Laimer, this person hesitated in his bid. It was already a very high price, but Ancient Species Devil Fruit were extremely rare.

"1.7 billion Beli!" Laimer suddenly gained 150 million Berries, he really doesn't treat money like money.

"The Beasts Pirates are really rich." People around whispered, because the Beasts Pirates' price increase was indeed quite steep.

With the proper management of the Babarossa Kingdom and the expansion of its territory, the Beasts Pirates have amassed a great deal of wealth. In terms of wealth, neither the Big Mom Pirates nor the Whitebeard Pirates can compare to the Beasts Pirates.

A country's annual tax revenue can be staggering, especially for a large country like the Babarossa Kingdom.

Kaido knew he wasn't good at management, so he entrusted this task to someone capable of it and didn't interfere too much in the operation of the kingdom.

Moreover, under the protection of the Beasts Pirates, the Babarossa Kingdom was safe. All the kingdom's nobles were killed, and the Babarossa Kingdom became the center of the entire sea, with the kingdom's development showing a thriving trend.

Compared to the oppressive rule of the Kate Kingdom in the past, the atmosphere in the kingdom is much more relaxed now, except that the person being served has changed to a pirate.

"Seventeen billion once."

"Twice."

"Three times, congratulations to the Beasts Pirates."

With a price of 1.7 billion, no one continued to bid against the Beasts Pirates. There was no doubt that, given the Beasts Pirates' extravagance, if you raised the price again, they would simply push it down with an even higher price.

Rather than doing that, it's better not to bid at all. Malicious bidding might offend the Beasts Pirates.

"This trip was definitely worthwhile; they really don't treat money like money."

Some casual pirates, seeing a Devil Fruit costing 1.7 billion, simply couldn't comprehend it.

Is this the difference between a nobody and a big shot?

He took out seventeen Beli without batting an eye, even though he knew the value had increased significantly, he still bid.

Was he showing off to them?

Some insignificant people sighed and lamented, after all, they didn't even have the right to boast.

The gap between them and the Great Pirate is not only in strength, but also in their background and foundation.

The display stand rose again, and to the Beasts Pirates' disappointment, there were no Ancient Species Devil Fruit.

After all, a rare Ancient Species is enough to be the grand finale of the Expo. Moreover, just as Teach predicted, the Beasts Pirates took the Devil Fruit.

Taking it out would only be aiding the enemy.

The items to be auctioned next are the real highlight, and also the products that the Night Pirates are trying to sell.

To everyone's surprise, it was a robotic arm, a sophisticated machine containing some mysterious elements they couldn't understand.

Even if they didn't understand it, they could tell that it was a high-tech product.

Some people couldn't help but sit up straight. Some members of the Night Pirates all possessed mechanical arms. Because they were relatively few in number, and because they were usually covered with realistic skin during battles, they looked just like real ones.

However, during the war with the Whitebeard Pirates, a few people noticed the mechanical hands of the members of the Night Pirates.

Moreover, during the Battle of Exo Island in the first half of the Grand Line, Otto's mechanical arm was quite eye-catching, not only because it was flexible and powerful, but also because it could load cannon shells and weapons.

This has already attracted some attention, but not many people are paying attention.

They were all curious about the purpose of the mechanical hand the Night Pirates had brought out. As for its function, it was obvious just by looking at it.

"This is a mechanical arm, something developed by our Night Pirates. Once attached to a severed arm, it can be controlled freely like a naturally grown arm. The only thing it lacks is the sense of touch," Baccarat explained with a smile to the mechanical arm beside her.

Upon hearing this, everyone present, especially those in front of the Transponder Snail, was shocked that such a signal could exist.

At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku and the others stared wide-eyed at the mechanical arm in the video feed.

The robotic arm was undeniable, but how was it possible to control it freely? The first thought that popped into their minds was that it was impossible.

Some slower learners may still find the invention amusing, but the clever ones have already foreseen the future of this robotic arm—it will undoubtedly be a world-shaking invention.

However, this is just talk; there is no clear evidence yet to prove the effectiveness of this robotic arm.

Seemingly sensing their thoughts, Baccarat smiled slightly, "Next, let a member of the Night Pirates come up and test the mechanical arm's effectiveness."

Immediately afterwards, a pirate walked up. He was a member of the Night Pirates. What was most noticeable was the smooth wound on his entire left hand; his forearm had been severed.

This is a severed arm, clearly cut off by a sharp blade, and the wound has been there for at least one or two months.

And judging from the size of this mechanical arm, it matches the missing part of the pirate perfectly.

This member was somewhat excited because his hand had finally returned. The days without his hand were actually very agonizing, but he endured them for the sake of the Night Pirates' plan.

At the same time, he was also a little nervous, because facing so many Great Pirate, even though he had made preparations long ago.

Next, it was time to demonstrate the effects of the robotic arms. Many members had already been fitted with robotic arms and legs. Although they lacked experience, they knew how to do it.

He picked up the robotic arm and placed it on his severed arm, pressing it tightly against the fracture surface.

As if sensing something, a light shone from the inside of the robotic arm, and a faint glow could be seen from the outside.

The next moment, the robotic arm moved on its own. In a place unseen by others, at the connection between his arm and the robotic arm, needle-like tubes extended out, pierced into his arm, and connected to his nerves.

The pierced wound throbbed with pain, and the member frowned. Blood trickled from the connection point, and although it was unclear what had happened, it was evident that the process had not been easy.

However, for many pirates, they have endured far greater pain. If it can help them regain their arms, what is this little bit of pain?

Around the world, many pirates who had fallen into despair, fallen into a trough, or retired, or other powerful figures, felt a surge of excitement.

When people venture out to sea, injuries are inevitable; many have retired after losing an arm.

This wasn't the end; the mechanism at the rear edge of the robotic arm unfolded, enclosing the connection point.

This is actually not safe; such a connection is not as secure as a real arm. If a strong tilting force is applied, the robotic arm could very well be knocked off.

This is why, while studying the central nervous system, Otto also studied flesh-and-machinery, aiming to create a closer and more flexible connection between flesh and machine.

Just like machines rust after prolonged use, flesh-and-blood machines don't have this problem. Ordinary robotic arms do, but their lifespan can last for several years.

The Night Pirates have also prepared after-sales repair services, which will be a significant source of income in the future.

However, products that combine life-giving machinery with flesh and blood will definitely be kept for internal use and will not be sold.

The member stood there blankly, the arm connected to the robotic hand motionless, as if sensing something.

Suddenly, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. After all, this was the first time he had ever felt the sensation in the part of his arm that he had lost return.

Amidst the astonished gazes of countless people, the mechanical hand's fingers twitched slightly, and then the entire mechanical hand began to move rapidly and freely.

The up-and-down movement of the finger joints and the twisting of the wrist are all done with ease and freedom.

Upon seeing this, many people stood up in shock, their eyes wide.

Now, the truth is clear: this robotic hand really is just like a normal hand.

The only drawback is the lack of tactile sensation, but what does that matter to someone who has lost a hand?

Then, a small display stand rose up, and on it appeared something that looked like a glove and was the color of skin.

"Put it on." Baccarat smiled.

The member nodded, picked it up, and put it directly onto his robotic arm. The simulated skin was also specially customized, the same size as his robotic arm, fitting perfectly and matching the member's skin tone.

This time it felt completely different. With the realistic skin on, his hand was still moving, but it didn't look out of place at all, just like a real arm.

Next, Baccarat had him try holding the knife and striking a steel plate; all the movements were perfectly normal.

Furthermore, due to the material, the robotic arm is very hard, like steel.

"Alright, the demonstration of the robotic arm is complete." Baccarat dismissed the member and smiled as she looked down at the restless crowd.

"Tell me quickly, how much is this mechanical arm?" one of the pirates shouted, his eyes gleaming with longing.

The others' eyes fell on him; he too had a conspicuous missing arm, which had been severed by the enemy in battle.

Meanwhile, someone recognized him. "It's the Great Pirate Mexico, with a bounty of 600 million Beli. Five years ago, his right arm was cut off by an enemy. Later, he obtained Devil Fruit and rose again. If he had a right hand, his strength would definitely increase significantly."

I understand why Mexico is in such a hurry.

Baccarat wasn't in a hurry. "Because everyone's situation is different, robotic arms are all custom-made. The size and the amount of materials used also affect the price."

"If you want to know the approximate price, you can refer to that robotic arm we just saw; it costs around 100 million Beli." Baccarat, however, knew that the robotic arm only cost 5 million Beli to produce.

That's a twenty-fold increase in profits.

"Furthermore, we can customize not only robotic arms, but also feet, and even a single finger or toe. However, although fingers and toes are small, they are much more expensive due to their precision requirements."

Upon hearing this, many members of the Whitebeard Pirates turned their attention to the Captain of the Second Division, Hii, who had a missing leg, which affected his combat strength.

Many people had already guessed this.

"At the same time, our Night Pirates also prepared a lower-spec version. Both the quality of the materials and the flexibility will be much lower, making it a bit stiff, but the price is only around five million Beli."

This so-called low-end version is the civilian version. As soon as this was said, it made the eyes of many ordinary people and ordinary pirates who had given up hope on this expensive mechanical arm light up.

In this way, even they can regain their lost limbs.

As for five million Beli, how much? Not at all.

In this world, Beli isn't actually that valuable. Even a small village like Cocoyasia, under the rule of the Arlong, can survive by contributing 100,000 Beli each month, which means their income must be more than 100,000 Beli. If it weren't for the Arlong's oppression, their income would be even higher.

In other more affluent areas, it goes without saying that if you're willing to buy, saving for a year or two, or even three or four years, is more than enough.

Losing a hand or a foot would completely ruin the rest of most people's lives, but the appearance of the mechanical hand from the Night Pirates gave them hope.

At the same time, there are many powerful figures and pirates on the sea, most of whom have been forced to retire due to severe injuries that have left them physically disabled.

Don't they want to continue sailing the seas? Of course they do, and the Night Pirates have given them hope, the hope of rising again.

Some have already set off, preparing to head to the expanded Dark Night Sea Domain Night Pirates are located.

At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku and his colleagues wore solemn yet excited expressions. They had already foreseen the enormous impact of this technology, but they were powerless to stop it; it would entirely benefit the world.

At the same time, their navy also has many retired sailors due to various injuries; the accumulated number over the years is simply too great.

But they are the Navy, and enemies of the Night Pirates. Would the Night Pirates buy them mechanical arms?

It's easy to imagine that with this technology, many forces and individuals would need the help of the Night Pirates, even the Navy.

Baccarat ignored the commotion below. "Our Night Pirates' auction is over. We will now relinquish control of the auction. The other factions, please bring up your items for auction."

After speaking, he ignored the crowd below, whose hearts were still unsettled, and went straight up to the platform.

This is a regular event at the auction, and many factions have already prepared their auction items.

They couldn't let the Night Pirates all the limelight, otherwise they would fall behind. Even if they couldn't produce something as good as a mechanical arm, their preparations were still quite good.

Soon, someone else brought up the auction items and took over Baccarat's place, and the auction continued.